Lush (store)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lush is a company based in Poole in Dorset in the UK that produces and sells hand-made bath products, soaps, body lotions and cosmetics.
The first store was in the United Kingdom but now they have more than 400 shops in Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malta, Morocco, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Philippines, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates and the USA.
Lush grew out of Constantine and Weir plc's Cosmetics to Go mail order company which began operating in 1988. Lush itself started operating in 1994 as Cosmetics House, then in 1995 became Lush after a competition amongst customers. The winner was an Elizabeth Bennett, of Edinburgh, Scotland.
Contents |
[edit] Ethos
[edit] Animal Testing
Lush does not buy from companies which carry out, fund or commission any animal testing. Rather than have a fixed-cut off date for using ingredients that have been tested on animals, Lush does not purchase anything from companies that currently test any ingredients at all on animals. [1]
Lush believes that this offers a better financial benefit to companies to stop testing on animals than the traditional fixed-cut off date, as they will not boycott a company or ingredient for testing in the past. Therefore, a company that tests still has a reason to cease all current testing.
[edit] Ingredients
Lush list their ingredients in English as well as Latin, and make as much as possible out of fresh fruit, vegetables and other plants, including essential oils.
[edit] Products
To reduce waste, Lush makes many products solid, so they can be sold wrapped in paper or in small bags. Bubble bath and shower products, which are usually sold in bottles in liquid form in other establishments, are mostly solid or semi-solid in Lush. Lush's founders invented solid bath bombs and solid bubble bars. Products such as the popular 'Karma' (Lush's signature fragrance) have been made into bubble bars, soap, lotion, bath bombs, dusting powder, and solid shampoo.
[edit] Popularity
Lush's customers are often far more devoted to the company than most cosmetics users. There is a busy Lush forum where customers swap tips and reviews of products, and discontinued items can sell for high prices on places like eBay.
The forum is lively and contains many topics about new product ideas, raves about existing products and pleas to bring back old favourites.
Mark Constantine is a regular visitor, as are many of Lush's other founders and current staff.
[edit] B Never Too Busy To Be Beautiful
The success of Lush has prompted a sister company which sells more expensive products, focusing on makeup and fragrances. Their fragrances are made using traditional ingredients, such as essential oils, and are sold in glass bottles with old-fashioned atomiser pumps.
To date, there are only three B Never stores: two in London and one in Poole. However, the products can be purchased using mail order and through the company website.
